Smellydog
Well-Known Member
Talking of birds of prey I'd like to give a big thanks to Mrs Gos Hawk this morning!
I went to see if I could see any fallow this morning in the dark. Naturally I ask if a visit was ok and was told of course and can I sort a fox out that is stinking the place out around the farm house!
Well when I got there and out of the yard and into the field a fox trots away. It's still dark and I'm out with an open sighted rifle.
Not to worry, just stalk the place I said to myself.
I crested a brow and looked across a valley to see at around 700yards a fallow doe in the thermal. I see others also but that doe I've seen a couple of times there....I wonder if she will be there tomorrow....
Anyway I look the other way into a wood about 200yds and see what was a large fallow making his way in for the day.
Still not light enough I pursue just incase etc etc. It didn't happen but whilst trying I could see a fox looking out on a bracken hill side.
This is just above the farm so I set course to stalk the hill side.
This is where Mrs Gos comes in.
By the time I've got on the hill side it's light enough to shoot so I put away the thermal and switched to binos.
I know the thermal works in the day but I just wanted to use glass for a change.
Opposite the hill side is the field I just walked up. It also is hilly and knobs and there is a large oak.
I noticed a bird of prey lift off a hill top and aloft in the oak, only 100yds away. At first I thought it's just a buzzard but then I noticed the long tail. I picks up the binos and sure enough it's Mrs Gos. Her and her fella have bred there for a few years now and chwis and his kin have no idea and that's because they ain't hunters
.
Any I wonders what has she been on, looks down and there on top of the knob, 100yds away is Charlie looking at me! She must of been following it!
I put my muffs over my ears, cock the hammer and bring the 94 to shoulder. I get that painted front sight lined up with the rear, well, as best I can it's all blurry these days, steadies the lot on Charlie's shoulder and drops the hammer, down goes Charlie.
I quickly check that fallow doe out in the distance and sure enough on the report she trots into the wood.
Here is Charlie, a nice dog fox but not stinky one bit!
So I carried on working this hill side. I shot many fox's on it over the years but other than a woodcock or two nothing happens until the far end!
I also checked on that doe again, she had come out again to eat!
I've just climbed out of a bowl when in the brush a pheasant cocks up, lifts up and drops again not 50 yards away!
I catch a familiar glimpse of movement in the scrub birch and ready the rifle, I squeak as a mouse and out he comes, cautiously but non the less he just has to stick his head up doesn't he, you can guess the rest....
Now this is Mr Stinky and just above the farm house.
I made a couple of stands elsewhere and called but no more appeared so switched ammo and tried for a rabbit, that erm went ugly and poor buggsy needed two shots
Didn't take long though.
On a side not I've shot three fox's this week within 200yards of properties with occupants in and with unmoderated rifles and not one of them have heard a thing!
I went to see if I could see any fallow this morning in the dark. Naturally I ask if a visit was ok and was told of course and can I sort a fox out that is stinking the place out around the farm house!
Well when I got there and out of the yard and into the field a fox trots away. It's still dark and I'm out with an open sighted rifle.
Not to worry, just stalk the place I said to myself.
I crested a brow and looked across a valley to see at around 700yards a fallow doe in the thermal. I see others also but that doe I've seen a couple of times there....I wonder if she will be there tomorrow....
Anyway I look the other way into a wood about 200yds and see what was a large fallow making his way in for the day.
Still not light enough I pursue just incase etc etc. It didn't happen but whilst trying I could see a fox looking out on a bracken hill side.
This is just above the farm so I set course to stalk the hill side.
This is where Mrs Gos comes in.
By the time I've got on the hill side it's light enough to shoot so I put away the thermal and switched to binos.
I know the thermal works in the day but I just wanted to use glass for a change.
Opposite the hill side is the field I just walked up. It also is hilly and knobs and there is a large oak.
I noticed a bird of prey lift off a hill top and aloft in the oak, only 100yds away. At first I thought it's just a buzzard but then I noticed the long tail. I picks up the binos and sure enough it's Mrs Gos. Her and her fella have bred there for a few years now and chwis and his kin have no idea and that's because they ain't hunters
.Any I wonders what has she been on, looks down and there on top of the knob, 100yds away is Charlie looking at me! She must of been following it!
I put my muffs over my ears, cock the hammer and bring the 94 to shoulder. I get that painted front sight lined up with the rear, well, as best I can it's all blurry these days, steadies the lot on Charlie's shoulder and drops the hammer, down goes Charlie.
I quickly check that fallow doe out in the distance and sure enough on the report she trots into the wood.
Here is Charlie, a nice dog fox but not stinky one bit!
So I carried on working this hill side. I shot many fox's on it over the years but other than a woodcock or two nothing happens until the far end!
I also checked on that doe again, she had come out again to eat!
I've just climbed out of a bowl when in the brush a pheasant cocks up, lifts up and drops again not 50 yards away!
I catch a familiar glimpse of movement in the scrub birch and ready the rifle, I squeak as a mouse and out he comes, cautiously but non the less he just has to stick his head up doesn't he, you can guess the rest....
Now this is Mr Stinky and just above the farm house.
I made a couple of stands elsewhere and called but no more appeared so switched ammo and tried for a rabbit, that erm went ugly and poor buggsy needed two shots
Didn't take long though.On a side not I've shot three fox's this week within 200yards of properties with occupants in and with unmoderated rifles and not one of them have heard a thing!
.
